Fantastic once in a lifetime experience!
- Deborah, Darrell, Nancy & John - Louisiana
Custom tour packagesVienna
With romantic nostalgia and modern hype, Vienna combines present and past. Its historical center is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Grand palaces, churches, parks, and museums are everywhere in Vienna. There is no doubt why Vienna's historic is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lovers of culture will feel right at home with Vienna's cafes and pastry shops, timeless art, and music. For better or worse, this vibrant city has left its mark on the world: if you visited in 1913, you would have found Freud, Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Tito, and Trotsky living in the same district, patronizing the same cafes. Often regarded as the world's music capital, Vienna is where Mozart and Beethoven made history. This vibrant tradition continues today with musical and theater performances daily across the city.
The regal capital of Austria is a beloved, unfailing source of art and culture.
It's hard to go wrong sightseeing in Vienna. There seems to be a palace around every corner. The city center, known as St. Stephen's Square, features an eponymous gothic cathedral. Visit Stephansdom – St. Stephen's Cathedral – to enjoy a wealth of art treasures and climb the 343 stairs for breathtaking views over the city and square. A splendid boulevard called the Ringstrasse circles the center. It is lined with grandiose imperial buildings and defines the "Innere Stadt" where you will find the magnificent Hofburg. Further out lies the majestic Schönbrunn Palace, a former summer residence of the Habsburgs. The Belvedere Palace is another must-see. A stroll amongst Vienna's bustling walking streets makes for an enjoyable day of shopping. You could also cruise on the Danube. Or just relax at one of the famous Viennese coffee houses.
Popular itineraries featuring Vienna
Spend some time in Vienna on a tour that takes in other cities in Austria and neighboring countries. Our custom tour packages including Vienna and other destinations throughout Austria and Europe make multi-city trips hassle-free. We take care of getting you from place to place, accommodation, excursions and activities.
Things to do in Vienna
You'll find most of Vienna's main sights are in the city center, such as St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg and the opera house, so a walking tour is a great way to get to know the city. Private guides in Vienna are costly but offer the advantage of flexibility versus an excellent small group tour that doesn't run every day. We'll advise accordingly. Another pair of Vienna experiences that you'll want to fit in if you can are a visit to the Spanish Riding School, for a performance, or a practice session, and perhaps a performance of the Vienna Boy's Choir. Beyond the Ringstrasse, Schönbrunn Palace is a must-see marvel of imperial grandeur. To get a taste for another aspect of Austria, we highly recommend heading to the Wachau Valley, one of the country's major wine-producing regions. When we send your customized itinerary you will be able to choose additional excursions to include in your vacation package or consider for adding later.
Art Nouveau in Vienna Private Tour
Countryside Winery Tour with Dinner Small Group Tour
Jewish Life in Vienna Private TourWhere to stay in Vienna
All the accommodation choices we will present to you as part of your customized vacation package proposal are located in or very close to Vienna's Innere Stadt, the historic "Inner City." You can be sure you'll be close to all the major central sights.
Iconic Luxury Hotel
Looking for a place to splurge? You know your stay will be luxurious, elegant and dare we say royal? This Vienna hotel is the true palace-like stay.
Historical Boutique Hotel
This hotel dishes up lots of Viennese charm. You'll feel like you stepped back in time, but with the conveniences of today.
Cozy Bed and Breakfast
This classic, cozy hotel has a family atmosphere and antique furnishings, and a good price for its central location.
From our team
What we love about Vienna
Vienna is one of my favorite capital cities. I still can't get enough of the beautiful parks, museum, palaces and most importantly, classical music. I highly recommend visiting the Prater, fun for both children and adults!
Bettina
Operations Executive
I like Vienna for its coffeehouse culture. The city truly made this into an institution. And what better way to enjoy your coffee than with a piece of delicious Strudel or a famous Sacher Torte?
Sasha
Trip Planner
The thing I like about Vienna is definitely the suburbs, of course, the Schnitzel. As soon as I leave the Ring area, where pretty much all the main sights and fancy buildings are, I feel at home, and that Vienna's suburbs are the "real face" of the city.
Norbert
Operations Training Specialist & Senior Team Leader
Where can you go from Vienna?
Filter by how you'd like to travel onward.
Glowing Reviews From Our Guests
Everyone we had contact with was wonderful. Very well planned and we would consider another trip with Jayway.
- Jean, Sandra & Lisa - Minnesota
We so enjoyed working with Jayway. They made our dream vacation come true. We will work with Jayway in the future.
- Tina & Craig - New Mexico
Videos About Vienna
Frequently Asked Questionsabout Travel to Vienna
When is Vienna's opera season?
The Vienna State Opera, the city's premiere opera house, generally has performances from the beginning of September to early July. The Theater on the Wien has a more far-ranging schedule, so it only has opera from mid-September to mid-May.
Can I pay by card?
While credit cards are widely used, it's best to have some cash on hand. We recommend having about 20 EUR/person per day on hand, just in case. It's best to use an ATM in the entrance to a bank, but you can also change US dollars at any exchange office.
How do I get around Vienna?
The historic center of Vienna is compact and flat, so walking should not be a problem. But this former imperial capital has plenty of attractions beyond the "Innere Stadt." If you're the explorer type, grab a day ticket, good for 24 hours of transportation, for 8 EUR. Schönbrunn Palace, the Danube Canal, and the TV-Tower are worthwhile, and easily accessible by public transport. If you're just interested in a landmark or two beyond walking distance of the center, you can always purchase single tickets, or call a cab.
When are the local shops and cultural hotspots open?
Many museums are closed on Mondays and public holidays. On other days, exhibition halls await guests, often from 10 AM to at least 6 PM. Concert halls offer acoustic experiences almost every day. Most shops are open from early morning until 8 PM, but close on Sundays, although souvenir shops tend to close earlier. Some restaurants, take Mondays off, while the Naschmarkt food market, and its restaurants, take a break on Sundays.
How and where can I eat well?
Viennese cuisine is very much meat-based, and not just because of the Wienerschnitzel. "Tafelspitz" (beef or veal boiled in broth and served with minced apples and horseradish, goulash, various cold cuts served with sauerkraut, spreads, and cheese, are all very popular. And let's not forget the city's famed sweets! Vienna is most famous for its Sacher Torte cakes, and Kaiserschmarrn (a fluffy sweet pancake that's torn up and served with even sweeter toppings such as jam and apple sauce), and has just as many strudels as any of its Central European neighbors. Viennese love to eat out, so we recommend reserving a table. Almost anywhere you go, though, you can expect a quality dining experience.
How long should I spend in Vienna?
Imperial Vienna deserves a good 3-night stay. The historic city center, the "Innere Stadt," is relatively small, and you can get to know its exteriors fairly well with a 2.5-hour tour with a qualified day, then explore the rest of the city on your own or to choose other excursions available during your stay. On one of your full days, make sure to visit the Wachau Valley on a day trip by bike or private transfer. One of your evenings should be dedicated to a music event - it's Vienna, after all! For your last morning, attend the "morning exercises" of the famed Spanish Riding School's Lipizzaner Horses.
Is Vienna safe?
Like any other place in Austria, Vienna is very safe.